Internet Culture Is a Good Thing for Pop Culture Research Paper

Internet Culture Is a Good Thing for Pop Culture - Research Paper Example These communications are either formal, informal or for purposes of entertainment. Although internet use is yet to hit all countries in the world, it registers significant influence on many modes of lifestyle either directly or indirectly. Indeed, internet use has no age restrictions, is largely accessible, is authoritative, and comes at a reasonable price. Internet culture emanates from the use of  computer networks for entertainment and the study of various social phenomena associated with the internet like online games, social media, and online communities (Hermeking Web). Pop culture famously known as popular culture is the combination of all perspectives, ideas, and attitudes that deviate from the common culture in the society (Danesi 1-7). It concurs with the Western culture of the early to mid-20th century and that of the late 20th and early 21st century. It involves the aspects of social life that are more dominant in the public. It is indeed, defined by social interactions between people in their everyday activities in form of styles of dress, the use of slang, greeting rituals and the foods that people eat (Philosophy Now Web). It demonstrates a lot of influence from the media and as such by internet culture. In the past, pop culture spread through print, radio, movies, or television. However, the impact of media like television and radio is decreasing at big rate following the emergence of the internet culture, which is taking over the spread of pop culture. Indeed, there is a direct correlation between internet culture and pop culture with pop culture drawing many benefits from internet culture. Internet culture contributes to changes in civic engagement in the USA (University of California, Berkeley Web). It can equally function as a space of new divisions of labor between civil society organizational actors and lay activists. One of the most important elements of internet that greatly supports pop culture is the ability to download files. Undeni ably, pop music, trends, and cultural events can seep to a large pop population through massive sharing of files. For instance, it is possible for pop fans to download music videos immediately their favorite artists release them. Additionally, internet makes it possible for pop artists to participate on pop culture activities without having to be physically present. For instance, thousands of artists are able to participate in real time when special pop culture events are held. Actually, the remarkable increase in internet penetration and high speeds makes streaming possible and therefore, able to stream videos as pop events happen. This has been a great boost to pop culture, which has also recorded a remarkable shift to internet interaction. One important thing about internet culture that makes it important to pop culture is its contribution the fast spread of pop lifestyle. Pop lifestyle, especially trends in dressing, are able to reach many people simultaneously and instantaneous ly. Ideally, internet has also been a platform in which, pop culture has also been able to disseminate to different parts of the world. This has been a boost to increased adoption of pop culture to many people across the world. The use of the internet have in a big way led to the spread of more information on pop culture as many people can now access this information over the internet with ease and no restrictions. However, pop culture does not necessarily depend on

Impact of rise of China on international orders in East Asia Essay Example for Free

Impact of rise of China on international orders in East Asia Essay China is one of the fastest growing economies in the world. Her growth has been accompanied by more political influence and voice in international scene. Her international influence has started to be felt in the recent years. China great investment in other countries has played a big role in this. China has also been on process of fastening her diplomatic relationships with various countries. She is also a member of major international and regional organization e. . World Bank, World Trade Organization (WTO), Asian Development Bank (ADB), International Monetary Fund, Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation(APEC). Additionally, she also has veto power in UN decision making process. Consequently her rise is likely to destabilize international orders in East Asia which compromises of countries such as People Republic of China, Japan, North Korea, Taiwan, Japan, and North Korea. It is likely that influence on this area by the America, Western Countries, Russia and Japan will be destabilized as China entrench its economic and political interests. (Rex Li 2008 p1). China has been having different perception about issues in this area which have been conflicting with those of Western and USA. For instance, the North Korea nuclear weapon programs which has been openly and toughly opposed by USA and Western countries has seen fair opinion from China which has also been opposing sanction against this country. China has also been actively developing ‘strategic partnerships’ with the major power and actors around the world. It is therefore clear that China has been having global aspiration but East Asia has remained to be the main focus. People of Republic of China leaders also consider East Asia as the most important region for her economic development as well as security concerns. She has vital interest in this region. Her leaders have also been paying great attentions on strategies of the major powers in East Asia especially the Russia, America and Japan. Her economic expansion in terms of trade has been increasing tremendously, for instance her exports grew from US$9. 8 billion in 1978 to US $1218 billion in 2007. Her foreign direct investment increased from US$916 million in 1983 to US$74. 8 billion in 2007. China has also focused on enhancing economic cooperation with the East Asian countries. This relation has been integrated into number of subregional economic groupings such as Northeast China-Korea-Japan and Hong Kong-Guangdong-Shenzen triangles. In addition to this, China has also been in forefront to ensure development of other subregions e. . Tumen River project so as to promote her cooperation with Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Mongolia and Russia. The other subregion is Yellow Economic Zone which include Shandong and Liaoning provinces, Japan, South Korea China has also continued to strengthen its multilateral and bilateral relations with other Asian nations. The announcement of establishment of a China-ASEAN free trade Area by 2010 in Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Plus Three summit in 2002 at Phnom Penh is a good example of these efforts. Additionally, she has also established its military ability through purchase of more weapons especially from Russia. For instance, China has over forty ballistic missiles. (Rex Li 2008 p4). All this relations offers China with a good foundation to destabilize the international order in East Asia. Although it may take a little longer, it is probable that America, Russia and Japan influence in this area will be overtaken by that of China.

Murphys Law :: essays research papers

It is a quiet, Saturday afternoon, and the overcast humidity of the air gives me an obscene sense of nonchalance. Time in hand, I peruse a ‘Survival Handbook’, a sort of â€Å"Pessimist’s Guide to the World†. It was given to me as a Christmas present, and its perverse implication of Murphy’s Law amuses me. I would assume that its pleasant uselessness would appeal to all who share my insatiable appetite for superfluous information. A smile creeps onto my face as I remember the one objective truth about this world: â€Å"Anything that can go wrong, will†. I stop to ponder a hypothetical scenario in which I might need to know â€Å"How to win a sword fight† or â€Å"How to leap from a burning car†. Further indulging my pessimism, I begin to fantasise†¦ I am siting comfortably in the first class compartment of a train from Paris to Munich, quietly minding my own business, sipping coffee from a china mug and reading my Pessimists Handbook, when the door at the end of the carriage opens. In walks a decrepit looking old man dressed in tattered rags, giving him the appearance of Fagan from Oliver Twist. Unlike Fagan on the other hand, he sports a gleaming new assault rifle and is draped in chains of ammunition. This, I realise, gives him more of a â€Å"Rambo meets Hunchback of Notre Dame† appearance. After a little deliberation, I notice that this is somewhat out of place in my train carriage, which to my perplexed bemusement, is becoming littered with bullet holes. Caring not at this time to ponder the philosophical implications of this seemingly random outburst of post-teenage angst, I am more worried about the looming possibility of ending unfashionably dead. Remembering my survival handbook, I â€Å"run fast but do not move in a straight line† and â€Å"weave back and forth†. Coming to the opposite end of the carriage, I slide open the door, and â€Å"turn a corner as quickly as I can† which leaves me but one option; to climb the ladder leading onto the top of the carriage. Having previously read the chapter entitled â€Å"How to Maneuver on Top of a Moving Train†, I am fortunately informed that I should â€Å"not attempt to stand up straight†¦ stay bent slightly forward, leaning into the wind†. As I â€Å"move my body with the rhythm of the train – from side to side and forward†, I remember my feet should be â€Å"spread about 30 inches apart†, and that I should â€Å"wobble from side to side† as I move forward.

Business Requirements Document Essay

Business requirements are the critical activities of an enterprise that must be performed to meet the organizational objective(s). The BRD should remain solution independent. In the context of the project scoping for hardware procurement and installation, this is about identifying and documenting the business requirements of customers, employees, and vendors early in the development cycle to guide the design of the future state. Business requirements are captured by analyzing the current business activities and processes of the as-is state (current process) and defining a target state (to-be process) that will deliver the planned business outcomes that contribute to the organizational objectives. Objectives of the BRD: Stakeholders to gain agreement with stakeholders about what will and will not be delivered Vendors to provide a foundation to communicate to a vendor (or in-house provider) what the solution needs to do to satisfy the customer’s and business’ needs Sponsors to provide input into the business case development phase of the project Customers to describe ‘what’ (not ‘how’) the customer/business needs will be met by the proposed solution Business Requirements Document (BRD) describes the high level requirements that senior management would understand, for example, SS relationship: The BRD is the foundation for all subsequent project deliverables, describing what inputs and outputs are associated with each process function. The BRD describes what the system would look like from a business perspective, distinguishing between the business solution and the technical solution. Business requirements often include: business context, scope, and background, including reasons for change key business stakeholders that have specific requirements success factors for a future/target state constraints imposed by the business processes or other systems business process models and analysis defining either ‘as-is’ and ‘to-be’ business processes glossaries of business terms, local terminology or acronyms Data flow diagrams to illustrate how data flows through the information systems (different from flowcharts depicting algorithmic flow of business activities). A broad cross section of the business should be involved in the development of the BRD. Categories of Business Requirements There are five levels of requirements that are typically captured at different stages of the BRD development. These are: Level 0 business requirements High-level statements of the goals, objectives, or needs of an organization. They usually describe opportunities that an organization wants to be realized or problems that they want to be solved. Level 1 User (Stakeholder) requirements Mid-level statements of the needs of a particular stakeholder or group of stakeholders. They usually describe levels of interaction with the intended solution. Often acting as a mid-point between the high-level business requirements and more detailed solution requirements. Level 2 Functional (solution) requirements Usually detailed statements of the behavior and information that the solution will need. Level 3 Quality-of-service (non-functional) requirements Usually detailed statements of the conditions under which the solution must remain effective, qualities that the solution must have, or constraints within which it must operate. Examples include reliability, testability, maintainability, availability requirements. They are also known as characteristics, constraints or the non-functional requirements, and Level 4 Implementation (transition) requirements Usually detailed statements of capabilities or behavior required to enable transition from the current state to the desired future state. Examples include recruitment, role changes, and migration of data from one system to  another. The success of a BRD is dependent on the agreement of the business to the need for change and the expected business outcome(s). The BRD provides the opportunity to review the project charter to ensure that the objective, goals/outcomes, scope, project team, and approvers are accurately reflected. Prerequisites for BRD Important pre-requisites for a successful BRD are set out below: A current environment assessment. This includes a detailed process map of the current environment highlighting areas that will be affected by the project. The detailed â€Å"as is† process maps should include: clearly defined start and end points of the process; level 1 and level 2 requirements and stakeholder process functions; defined areas of rework and redundant business processes to be removed; cycle time, capacity and rework information for each process step as available, and Baseline for critical metrics for the current environment. Critical quality or performance metrics validated with baseline measurements, targets and specifications. These include: data defining and describing current performance such as how the product/service’s characteristics are to be quantified; specifying the target for the product/service performance and the acceptable tolerances, and The allowable tolerance for service levels, for example how often the product/service is allowed outside the specification limits. The target environment assessment, including critical quality or performance metrics validated with baseline measurements, targets and specifications. These include: data defining and describing the expected performance such as how the product/service’s characteristics are to be quantified; specifying the target for the product/service performance and the acceptable tolerances, and The allowable tolerance for service levels, for example how often the product/service is allowed outside the specification limits. A detailed process map of the target environment. The following figure 4 illustrates a useful way of framing a process flow. Example of a process flow Other BRD considerations The BRD contains a number of project details – such as constraints, assumptions and dependencies, business rules, scope, measurements reporting and other topics critical to the project. The following should be considered in the context of the overall project and, where appropriate, clearly documented. Any external constraints (e.g. regulatory, legal or locational constraints). Constraints and assumptions relating to the complexity of business requirements, interdependence with other systems, timing of events, the scalability of technical options, reporting requirements and any service limits that may apply. Constraints and assumptions relating to the user numbers (staff and customers), users’ existing capability and training required, degree of user support required IT skills availability and location. An example of the difference between a constraint and an assumption is: an assumption could be the number of users that an online service will have: 10,000 logged-on users per day and no more than 5,000 at any given time, and A constraint relating to the number of users may be that the system has a maximum capacity of 20,000 logged-on users at a given time. Reference CONCEPTUALISE ICT projects technical guidance Business case development; The Secretary Department of Treasury and Finance 1 Treasury Place Melbourne Victoria 3002. Copyright  © State of Victoria 2012.

Cultural object Essay

The object is an illustration present in a rectangle paper. The paper itself is glossy, thin and fine meshed. In the object, the words â€Å"SUPERMAN† can be found illustrated at the top of the paper in a block, all caps font, colored yellow with red lining. Below it and slightly to the right can be found the words â€Å"SUPERMAN ON EARTH† set in yellow all caps block font. At the center of the rectangular paper is a depiction of a male Caucasian garbed in a blue colored fitting suit, with a red triangular cloth covering the genitalia and a red cape flowing from the shoulders. Situated at the center of the man’s chest is a symbol, an â€Å"S† painted in red inside a red outlined pentagon filled with yellow. The illustration of the male Caucasian is seen standing over a depiction of the horizon of the world. On the left side of the male is an illustration of an explosion, with rocks being scattered. At the center of the explosion is an illustration of an elderly man and a woman garbed in a grey suit. The elderly man has the same symbol on his chest as that of the male in the center, although the elder man’s symbol is outlined in black. To the right of the male Caucasian in the center is a depiction of a star, pale white in color, with spires arising from the four primary and four secondary directions. The background is set in a black sky dotted by stars. A circular emblem colored blue and white and containing four stars set around the letters â€Å"DC† can be found on the upper left corner. Slightly below it is the words â€Å"No. 1, May ‘02† inside a yellow star like object. From the treatment of the paper to make it glossy, it is probable that this superman figure is of some importance to their (American) culture. The words â€Å"Superman on Earth† denotes his origin as extraterrestrial, as seen when accounting for the stellar background. The couple to his right is probably his parents since the elder man has the same symbol emblazoned on his chest. Deriving meaning from the name, superman means a man above the rest or a man better than the rest, giving a clue that the man is no ordinary human and may be imbued with special powers. His bearing whilst sanding over the world is more of as a guardian that as a creator giving a hint that as someone with extraordinary powers, he may have used those powers to guide or guard the world. In considering all of this, the figure could be a mythical hero of their culture whose exploits are recorded or told in a series of manuscripts using detailed illustrations and words to convey the story. The â€Å"no1, May 02 may refer to the date this illustration was created or made available. Biological Context of the Object Humanity’s interest in mythical heroes can be seen throughout history. These heroes usually have above average traits that set them apart from the normal persons of the times. This drive can be a result of humanity’s recognition of evolution and the principle that those with particular traits like incredible strength or stamina survived much longer and are better equipped to accomplish more than their ordinary counterparts. This veneration for those with extraordinary powers probably arose upon man’s recognition of his own physical limitations. When compared upon his prey, animals, man saw that there are some traits that would be useful. Flight in birds, speed in cheetahs, strength in bears, endurance of mammoths, and these traits made man wish that they had them. These wishes translated to mythical accounts of what it would be like to have those kinds of powers, accounts that are now perceived as myths and legends. Humans are the only species to be found capable of abstract thought. This allows us to manipulate resources in order to derive enjoyment. Literature, arts, these things enable us to derive enjoyment from our current society. Throughout history, civilizations have tried, after realizing their basic needs, to indulge in pleasure. Curiosity in man has also led to advancement. Myths and legends are byproducts of mans inquiry as to the nature of the world and philosophy as to the nature of the self. The object is a product of man’s persistent question, what if? Cultural/historical context: Depictions of individual with powers greater than that of mortal men can be found throughout history, in various cultures. These can be found in depictions of supernatural beings with extraordinary powers. Usually, myths stem from established cultures whose basic needs like food, shelter and security are ensured. It is then that the society turns to explaining the world around them. These are the foundation of first the creation myths, found in the Epic of Gilgamesh, Greek, Babylonian and Nordic myths, as well as the Bible. Levi Strauss argues that myths stem from people’s intellectual inquiry, from the desire to explain self, surroundings and society. Various cultures around the world have provided objects by which beings with powers are depicted. These includes clay tablets where the epic of Gilgamesh is written,, the bible, ceramics depicting Hercules, Aztec pottery depicting Quetzalcoatl, among others. In these, it is evident that the heroic figures play a much important role to society than merely stories. Myths are closely tied with religion, as with the Norse, The Babylonians, the Greeks and the Romans. The concept of myths in early civilizations is most often a reflection on the prevalent culture, society, politics and beliefs of the people. Not all heroic stories stem from myths however. Most often, heroes in folklore have also superhuman powers. And most often, the stories portray the hero not just in one setting or one plot. Instead multiple stories abound, yet the protagonist remains the same. This is evident in Beowulf, the labors of Hercules and in American folklore, Pecos Bill and Paul Bunyan. In American culture, folk heroes usually offer a glimpse of the culture of the times. The spectacular deeds of Pecos Bill and Paul Bunyan reflect upon what was considered the ideal American of those times, strong rugged, humorous and witty. They reflect a culture that is wild, that sees itself as being capable of great things. Looking at the object, we see that it gives a hint on the culture. From the object itself, one may deduce that the protagonist, Superman, was not of this Earth ( the stellar background, Earth’s view from a space perspective and the phrase Superman on Earth). The belief in an extraterrestrial coming to earth is not unknown of in world cultures. The Mayans, Aztec, and Egyptians all had beliefs in extraterrestrial life. This belief could be said to stem from a sense of terrestrial achievement. A sense that the culture is at its peak and that progress or destruction comes not from itself or from other cultures but from extraterrestrial sources. The object can be perceived as a story telling device of a mythical hero, not unlike clay tablets or parchment. This may be for amusement or inspiration. However, the use of graphics and words as means of expression, just like that of Egyptian pictograms and hieroglyphics shows that the object is intended for a wide audience based those who can intellectually understand as well as those who can appreciate the aesthetic value of the story. In standing over the world, it may be seen that their culture not only values their nation’s advancement, but may also see themselves as responsible for the welfare of other cultures, much like the Roman, Persian and Muslim empires. This may again stem from a sense of cultural supremacy, as well as from advancement in the various aspects of civilization. Much like oral tradition was used in the past, and later on the written word, for storytelling, so this object may be the means of telling the stories of this culture. Its use of graphics provides a starting point by which the imagination, conjured up by words, can take off into the realm of the supernatural. Just like myths and folklore of the past, the object provides a reflection not only on different aspects of the culture but also on its intended destination for the future. Economic Context Looking at the object, it really has no material value in the simplistic context. It is not edible, is not made of precious metals or gems, nor can it be used as a weapon. A society that produces these kinds of objects with only their aesthetic value and meaning and not that of necessity has presumably moved past the barter system of trade where only goods of necessity has any value. The object then can be either religious or secular in origin. The object could be religious as a representation of a believed and worshipped deity or secular as a means of entertainment. In observing the material by which the object is imprinted upon, the use of a higher quality paper denotes a higher value for the object, as well as the apparent detail in its production. Only a society with an advanced economic system is capable of allocating so much resource into a single representation, more so that the object is presumably for entertainment purposes. Most cultures that give priority to the arts are those whose economies are capable of allocating value to something that does not satisfy man’s basic needs but its wants. These civilizations, like that of the Italian Renaissance, the Aztec civilization, Egypt and Rome, use graphical representation to please a society satisfied with life. The same could be said of the economy and society that produced this object. It could be deduced that economically and socially, a majority of those living in the culture whence the object came from have their basic needs, food, water, shelter and security satisfied. Hence, they can allocate more in the pursuit of entertainment, education and other abstract needs. It could be seen that the culture is first technologically advanced, and second, is economically capable of obtaining materials for production. First, the paper in which the object consists of is glossy, not easily tearable, and water resistant and fine wired. This could only be a result of technological processing. The colors used in the paper can only come from pigments. In various cultures, it is only those with advanced economies which could lead to the middle and lower classes, and small objects, being painted with such detail. Ecological Context Ecology has at its maxim that the strongest population has the greater chance of passing on its traits to its off springs and thus enduring. The stronger population can secure resources, protect against attacks and obtain more space. Thus, rooted in ecology is the desire to be above others. In a sense, the appearance of a Superman would signify complete ecological dominance. That a culture would idealize a concept like this signifies that that culture, in terms of ecological population, has secured food, space and security from other neighboring populations. That the logical next step for this culture would be provided by an outside, or extraterrestrial source since all terrestrial aspects can be deemed fulfilled. The materials of which the object is composed of also give a clue that the civilization it belongs to is capable of producing synthetic material. Production of synthetic material is primarily a result of two things, scarcity of natural resources, or economic superiority by which materials can be obtained without touching one’s natural resources. Summary/Closure: The object can be said to be a means of entertainment and storytelling. It portrays a being with superhuman powers coming into Earth and protecting it. This object is a result of and shows different anthropological aspects of the culture that produced it. Biologically, the object can be perceived as the product of man’s desire to improve himself, and also his awareness of his limitations. The object also shows man’s capabilities throughout history to utilize its abstract thought to derive pleasure and ideas from the surroundings. Man’s innate curiosity has lead to the production of myths, featuring beings with supernatural powers, which serve as both answers regarding questions about the natural world and representations of the civilization itself. Throughout history myths have propagated, portraying the general psyche of a civilization. Methods of passing stories from one person to another includes oral, which became written, which as evidenced by this object became a combination of both. The depiction of men with supernatural powers have in history, generally been a representation of the strength and power of a civilization. The depictions of heroes that are larger than life exhibit a culture’s greatness. The wide spread indulgence of this can only come if all basic needs of the people within the culture are satisfied. Then the culture can indulge in other fields. The object signifies that in the culture that produced it, the basic needs are supplied, that help will come from others, not from other nations. The use of this object means that the society is willing and capable of allocating resources to personal entertainment. By looking at the object, one may be able to make deductions regarding its use and the culture that produced it. However, these deductions may or may not hold true, and requires much more evidence to be able to get a thorough knowledge of the culture. REFERENCES Harris, M. Culture. People, Nature: An Introduction to General Anthropology. New York: Thomas Y. Crowell Company, 1975. Keesing, Roger M. Cultural Anthropology. Sidney: Holt, Rinehart and Wilson, 1976.